Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-19
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE VETOED PENSION BILL
1t is Reported Back to the House.
The Senate.

AAo PfeSlolng Omcer presented several pet1t10nS
from Ohio posts Of the Grand Army OF the Repub-
nc 1or the passage OF the dependents pension bill
over the Presidents veto. Laid on the table.
Also, an1nvitation Of the citizens committee. Of
alexandra, Virginia. to take part in the celebra-
ZION OF Wash1ngtOn's birthday. Laid on the table.
Mr.. BECK's MEMORIAL.
MI. becK said that for years he had been pre-
senting petitions for the repeal Of the navigation
laws ~ sne hope that Americans might be able to
own, own ssesnsnp lines on the ocean. He had now
pEoEaIe9S Memorial on the same subject, signed
Dy nlmseal and which he asked to have referred to
tne committee on commerce, before which COM
miIIee ne would ask to be heard. AS a basis to
show the Importance of the matter, he also had
reIerred, with his memorial an extract from q
laIe speecn OF Count Won Moltke before the Ger
AlSo, newspaper extract in regard to the action
OF England toward her steamship lines. Referred
to the committee on commerce.
AGAINST MEETING EARLY.
Tne resolution heretofore offered by Mr.. Call for
the meeting OF the Senate at IL a. m. and adjourn
ment at 8 p. m. with an hours recess), was taken
up ana referred to the committee on appropna-
Ilols, M. Beck stating that business was
esd fees tne more }e m by giving the commit
before it the legislative bi the naval Bill,
snG sne ibai enc n and other
oozen important matters; and an extension Of
the hours In the Senate was simply cutting on
THE MILITARY ACADEMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr. ALLISON, from the committee on appropria-
tions. reported back the military academy ap-
preparation bill, and stated that the committee
nad ss reported but one amendment to it. Laid on
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.. Butler.
tnat the senate proceed without further delay to
tne consideration OF House bill to change the time
OF meeting OF the legislative assembly OF WASH
lngtOn territory, was taken up, and Mr.. Butler
made q statement as to the Importance OF the
measure.
A colloquy took place between Mr.. Butler and
Mr.. Mitchell, Of oregon, the latter opposing the
Dill. The discussion was also participated In by
MIR. Platt.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL
The discussion lasted till 9 O'Clock, when the
Presiding Officer presented the diminished bust
ness, being the Nicaragua canal bill.
Mr.. Blair presented petitions from several Grand
Army posts for the passage Of the dependent pen
sion bill over the Presidents veto. Laid on the
DISTRICT RECORDS.
He also introduced joint resolution relating to
early records OF the Capitol the city of Washing
Ton and the District OF Columbia. Referred to the
THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL
MI. Plumb, from the committee on appropria-
tions reported back the District committee appro-
priation bill, and gave notice that he would ask
the Senate to take 1t UP On Monday next.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
On motion OF Mr.. Mcmillan, the Nicaragua ship
canal bill was laid aside, and the Senate resumed
consideration OF the river and harbor appropria-
tiOn bill.
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Watson, Qnd.), from the committee on inva-
lid pensions reported back the dependent pension
bill with the Presidents veto message thereon.
He asked that the report be printed in the Record
and gave notice that he would call the bill up fOr
action on Thurday next.
Mr.. Brecktnr1dge, tArk.), objected to the report
Burrows, (Mich.), demanded thattt be read
The Speaker decided that the report must be
read, and the clerk proceeded to read it.
lecton and was met with loud cries for the sregu-
Lar order' from the republican side.
MI. Breck1nridge finally was heard to withdraw
his objection but 1t was Immediately renewed
upon the republican side. and the reading was
continued.
THE REPORT ON THE VETOED PENSION BILL.
TThe report states that two facts will arrest the
attention OF any one who reads the Presidents
message The first is that no objection is made to
the bill on any ground OF its constitutionality or
the right OF Congress to enact the law is not Ques
toned The other is that the first section Of the
biii Is not touched upon by the message, and no
as to whether that section Of itself, en-.
bOdying, as 1t does, an Independent proposition
secretary Of the Interior In his last annual report
meets with his approval or dtsapprOval. The
committee then analyzes the objections Of the
II
In that 1t might apply to various grades OF dis
ability and dependency, and submits to the Judg-
ment OF the House and the country that those
VINO framed The Dill. after months OF careful con-
SlderatlOn, have made no mistake, and have con-
hned the bill to one class-and that class can be
well defined consisting Of those totally disabled
or dependent on their daily labor for support
We regret, says the committee, the strained In
depreciation put On the bill in the message as an
House, and believe we do no injustice to the Exec
ut1ve when considering the whole message, to say
Snat II It's provisions had been palmer and no ques-
tiOn could nave been raised as to whether It in
cluded only those unable to labor he would have
1nterposed his objection. .
1t passes the comprehension OF this committee
10 understand how the President could have over
looked In another bill (the Mexican pension billy
what are alleged as faults in this bill. :
dent, the committee cannot believe, will be en-
dorsed anywhere by the patriotic sentiment OF
this country. Referring to the expenditures OF
money which the enactment OF this bill
into law would necessitate the committee con-
tends that the estimate of the President is
possible allowed
pendent soldiers and the relief they entitled to
receive rom the country which they helped to
money expedie1cy it seemed to the committee
that the surplus in the Treasury can be best re-
stored to the people in the manner proposed in the
NO bonded interest or huge monopolies could
clam tne money for its own. 1t would go to the
people In small amounts and would circulate
every hand. Protests against It had only come
from the money centers where all the money that
did not turn their mill was considered as worse
than wasted.
In conclusion, the committee submitted that the
general tone OF the message to be fairly taken
as expressive In advance OF the Presidents pur-
pose 10 use the executive power to prevent any
1urther legislation that would add any new class
TO the pension list or materially increase the cost
thereof, based on the idea that the country was
against it.
The committee was aware that there was SEN
t1ment OF that kind, but insisted that It was not
controlling one. The committee was 10th to be-
neve Jnat the people OF the country were willing
the de1ende4S OF the nations honor and life to live
during Their declining years In misery and want
On the contrary, 1t believed that the people would
prefer that those who made the laws should err on
the sue OF mercy rather than on the side OF too
rigid economy In the expenditures Of the public
money In this direction; and 1t further believed
tnat II more taxes or even q different kind OF
taxes were necessary to meet this demadd, they
Holding fast. says the committee, to these views
OF our duties as legislators and with cheerful
Willingness TO answer here and elsewhere for the
results OF honest labOrs to relieve the INDECENT
SOAolerS OF our common country, in any section
OF u, coming, as they do from many wars,
IN which we have been engaged, and, with every
conndence Of right verdict upon the whole mat
yer, we submit our bill again for the tudg-
tSa snI o The the House. and .,.a ask for ,5 4
tend 10 strengthen rather than to weaken 1t, we
recommend, without q dissenting voice in this
committee, that the bill do pass. Notwithstanding
the objections OF the PreSident.]
Inc report was listened to with great attention,
tlOugn the reading was several times interrupted